Valentine’s Day is on Monday and if you are stressing over money issues then it’s time to resort to your creative side. Instead of handing money over to the big corporations make all of your gifts and decorations yourself. Make this a DIY Valentine’s Day. To dress your interiors incorporate the color of 2011 honeysuckle and pair it with a vintage red, whites, and silvers. Glass accessories in this color are always a great option to get into the Valentine’s Day spirit. Valentine’s Day can really be all DIY when it comes to decorating and gifts. Design your very own heart-inspired jewelry box using wrapping paper and ribbons. To keep in the green fashion, give a seed starter as a gift this year. Recycling the seeds to help the planet. Create a heart shaped collage of pictures of you and your significant other on a wall in your home to show him or her how much you care. Place small tea candles in red glasses to instantly set the mood. For a romantic touch take out the original matting in some of your picture frames and replace it with decorative lace.
Combining modern design and rustic design is always visually pleasing. The year 2011 is all about organic and clean visions. Using the elements of nature incorporated with great design a new style is born. Simple white and neutral wall colors combined with stone, brick, natural wood, and other elements added with a splash of color is emphasized in the photos below: Become INSPIRED:
§Define the space with a bold color: Bright colors seem more inviting and engaging. Yellows, greens, and oranges tend to pick your guest’s interests.
§Using a runner draws your guests easily into your home: If you do not like the thought of placing a rug in that space you can easily paint a decorative one on the floor.
§Create some type of wall display to ignite interest: You can use mirrors pictures, or even empty picture frames to create something that is visually stimulating. If your entry way is darker than you would like it be try putting a well-placed mirror on the wall to try and trap the light in that area. Putting a mirror in a small space will also trick you into thinking that area is larger than it appears.
§If you have a little nook in the foyer, tuck in a table and a chair to give it a cozier feel.
§Table lamps and other lighting options are important to set a mood in your space. Select a table lamp that you like and place it in the space to cast an inviting glow.
§To create a glamorous first impression hang a chandelier 8.6’ above the floor in the entryway.
White is a refreshing color that can be used anywhere and everywhere. When you paint a room white the room instantly becomes clean, refreshing, new, and revived. The room appears to be larger, cleaner, and new. Modern interiors are often painted white to symbolize simplicity. This year more and more people are leaning towards more simplistic designs. Less clutter and more functional items. Everything now has a purpose. Detoxing your interior is what we like to call it. Moving towards greener products. Ask yourself can I live without this. This is what 2011 is all about. And this is why White is Right for 2011.
Window treatments can easily make or break the style of a room. Adding curtains or drapes to a window can create a focal point and also elongate the ceiling height. There are so many different options for your windows but I will cover just a few and also show you how to create your own printed drapes. Here is some vocabulary that may help you determine what is the right option for your specific window.
·Draperies- Are usually pleated panels that are hung from a traverse rod or a decorative pole and rings. There are many types of pleat arrangements some made by hand and some using pleating tape.
·Swags and cascades- Stationary swags of fabric can be combined and overlapped on a decorative pole or covered dust board. They can be pleated and formal or relaxed and casual. They are often combined with cascades (also known as jabots or tails) at each end of the windrow.
·Valences- Are decorative top treatments that can cove the mounting hardware of drapes or shades. They can be pleated, gathered or flat, arched, straight or shaped, and can be mounted on dust boards, poles, or rods.
·Cornices- Are padded box shapes covered in fabric and trim. The bottom edge can be shaped in many different ways. They are mounted above the window and can conceal other mounting hardware.
·Fabric Shades- Come in many shapes and sizes. They are usually raised and lower by a system of rigged cords or a spring-loaded roller. Roman shades and their much variation tend to be fullness from pleats or gathers and have a softer, pouffed appearance when raised. Austrian Shades are shirred down vertical lines giving a fuller look when down. Shades are usually attached to a covered mounting board that is attached either inside or outside the window trim. Some styles can be mounted on decorative poles.
The architecture of your home, your personal style, and most importantly where the room is located should really determine the type of window treatment for your window. If you have a modern house try and stick with a minimal window treatment. Possibly roman shades or simple drapes would be best. More traditional interiors you may opt for a dramatic treatment with generous swags and lots of fringe. Window treatments are fabulous but can be very pricey. A great way to create your own printed treatment is to make it using canvas fabric. You can use stencils or freehand paint if you have a steady hand. Use acrylic paint and let the canvas fabric dry over night. Use a large rod to hang above the window.
